Olukoyede confident EFCC athletes will excel in OSOM Games

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr. Ola Olukoyede has expressed optimism in the abilities of the Commission’s athletes to emerge in flying colours at the ongoing 6th One Service, One Medal, OSOM Games, taking place in Abuja.

He disclosed this through the Secretary to the Commission, Mohammed Hammajoda on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at the opening ceremony of the games at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

“We wish you the best of luck; we are very much proud of you and we believe that you will make us proud at the end of the day. I believe you will bring home as many medals as they can. And I wish to let you know that we are solidly behind you,” he said.

The Chairman, National Sports Commission, NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, who was represented by Honourable Bukola Olapade while emphasizing the focus of the Commission on grassroots talent hunt and sports development noted that some of the best sports personalities in the country had emerged from the military, security and law enforcement agencies.

“We recognise the role the security agencies play in the rich sporting history of our country. They have produced some of the country’s finest athletes who have done the country proud at various international competitions. At the commission we acknowledge that the security agencies still have the potential to produce top class athletes for the country which is part of the reasons we are committed like never before to hosting this year’s OSOM Games,” he said.

Dikko further noted that sports was a significant contributor in the country’s Gross National Product, GDP and called for private sector investment in sports. According to him, “The new management of the Commission is committed to introducing fresh ideas and initiatives to highlight the economic potentials, embedded in this sector which is a significant contributor to the country’s GDP. It is essential to encourage well-meaning Nigerians, including private investors to make meaningful investments in the sports sector for its potential productivity.”

Representative of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshal Nasiru Kumzi in his goodwill message appreciated the games organizers for a job well done, and observed that sports was a vehicle for national unity and development and provides avenues for youths’ expression of their positive energies.

“Sports keeps our youths away from social vices and gives them a sense of purpose. It helps in addressing some of our critical security challenges. We call on social organizations, philanthropists and well-meaning Nigerians to support its growth and development for national security development “ he said.

The OSOM Games is organized for the military, police, security and law enforcement agencies in the country, including the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS; Nigeria Correctional Service, NCOS; Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, the Directorate of State Services, DSS; Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC; the EFCC; the Federal Fire Service, Nigerian Intelligence Agency, NIA; Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC and Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS.

The five days sports event will end on April 29,2025.